Players
Maximillian Lu
Photo: NA Fernando Salazar
IM

Maximillian Lu

United StatesBorn 2005 (age 21)FIDE ID 2096242

Luft classical

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Monthly Luft ratings, now 2471
FIDE

FIDE classical

18002000220024002600201620182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2461
Luft

Flair

Maximillian Lu's classical flairs

0 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • TitanLuft classical rating averaging 2800+ over the last 4 years
  • Serial WinnerWon 2+ elite events in the last 12 months
  • UnderdogRegularly beats players rated 50+ higher
  • Fortress25+ games in a row without a loss
  • Black BeltDoes better with black than with white
  • IronmanPlayed 50+ games over the last 12 months
  • RisingAged 18 or under, Luft rating up 40+ over the last 12 months
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 90+: converting, saving and not throwing endgames
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • LightningTop 20 at speed chess (mostly blitz, some rapid)
  • Hot StreakAt least 6 points from 7 straight games against strong opposition
  • SignatureSticks to one defence with black far more than most
  • ChameleonPlays a wide range of defences with black
  • WildcardBrilliant one event, off the next: hard to predict
  • ReliableConsistent across all top events
  • FighterRarely draws, and wins far more than they lose
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events

No classical flair in the last year yet.

Trophy cabinet

No classical titles on record yet.

Attributes

Tactics 70Positional 75Endgame 79Openings 71Composure 65Defence 71Speed 56Consistency 70

Luft classical rating

2471No. 325

From 11 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2591 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2591 level, blended with their FIDE rating+14
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year0
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event+2
Activity11 classical games in top events−6

Openings

Their most-played, from 11 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
English Opening150%
King's Indian Attack150%
Queen's Gambit Declined150%
Catalan Opening150%
Benoni Defense10%

English Opening

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Anglo-Indian Defense150%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Spassky Variation150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation150%

Catalan Opening

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Closed150%

Benoni Defense

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 0, lost 1 · 0%

VariationGamesScore
Fianchetto Variation10%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 4 games, won 2, drew 2, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Moscow Variation2100%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation150%
Najdorf Variation150%

English Opening

With Black: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
King's English Variation1100%

Queen's Indian Defense

With Black: 1 game, won 0, drew 0, lost 1 · 0%

VariationGamesScore
Fianchetto Variation10%

Recent events

EventPlace+/−+/−
Brasov Grand Prix Classic 202631 Jul 20262/3+9+8
2026 Saint Louis Masters1 Mar 20264/8+14+15
2025 US Masters30 Nov 20252/3+25+25

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMLe Tuan Minh30 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters2598
GMG. Dudin28 Feb 2026 · 2026 Saint Louis Masters2585
GMV. Gazik27 Feb 2026 · 2026 Saint Louis Masters2537
IMJ. Fus31 Jul 2026 · Brasov Grand Prix Classic 20262450

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMI. NyzhnykLast 29 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1010
GMLe Tuan MinhLast 30 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1100
GMJ. ZhouLast 30 Nov 2025 · 2025 US Masters1010
GMA. FierLast 25 Feb 2026 · 2026 Saint Louis Masters1010
GMA. WoodwardLast 25 Feb 2026 · 2026 Saint Louis Masters1001

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How attributes are calculated

From their games in top events over the last 12 months, each judged against the opponent's rating

  • TacticsHow well they score in sharp games they chose to make sharp.
  • PositionalHow well they score in quiet, manoeuvring games they steered.
  • EndgameHow they do in endgames against what the position promised when it began: converting a winning one earns a little, saving a losing one earns a lot, and throwing a winning one costs a lot.
  • OpeningsThe engine's verdict on their position around moves 15 to 20, against what's normal for that colour, as the score it points to. Over the last 4 years, with older games counting less.
  • ComposureHow well they score under pressure: the game straight after a loss, and the last 3 games of an event while they can still win it. Over the last 4 years.
  • DefenceHow they do in games where they were 0.8 pawns or more worse after move 18, against what that position usually scores: holding the draw earns, turning it around earns more, and losing costs a little.
  • SpeedTheir Luft rapid and blitz ratings. With neither, an estimate a little below their classical level.
  • ConsistencyTheir Luft rating, less their off days: tournaments (5+ games each) over the last 4 years where they played 50+ below it. Anything better never counts against them.

  • "How well they score" is a performance rating: the opponent's rating, plus 400 for a win and minus 400 for a loss, averaged. So it's always judged against who they played.

    The score out of 100: 80 is a 2600 level, and each 13 rating points adds one, so 2860 and up is 100.

    Fair to everyone: with only a few games of a kind, the result leans towards their overall Luft rating. Strengths and weaknesses are measured against their overall level and compared with the top 100, so a specialist's best side stands out. A little recent form is added to all but Speed.